'Emotional' Vigil for Forked River Man Who Died in Motorcycle Crash

Remnants of a vigil remain at the intersection of Nautilus Boulevard and Normandie Drive next to a flag at half-mast for a Forked River man who lost his life Saturday in a motorcycle accident.

after his motorcycle collided with a mini-van on Nautilus Boulevard near the intersection with Normandie Drive in Forked River at 1:16 p.m. Saturday.

“It was very emotional,” Irene Tempalski said of the vigil. Tempalski’s house is on the corner of Nautilus and Normandie. The vigil sits on her property, beside the street sign.

Tempalski and Bill Provost, who also lives at that home, lowered their flag to half-mast for the vigil. That flag remains in the same position today in honor of Mollicone, said Tempalski, who didn’t know the motorcyclist.

Temaplski and Provost attended the vigil, which had approximately 70 friends and family members of Mollicone.

“He had a lot of friends that I could see,” she said. The vigil consisted of a moment of silence and a few kind words, including someone who stated that he was a “good man.”

Today, two days after the accident, people occasionally drive by and stop at the vigil, she said.

“I’ve never experienced something like this,” she said. “It gives me chills.”

Tempalski was home when the accident occurred. She heard the motorcycle and saw it go past her front window, she said. While the motorcycle landed near Yorktown Drive, Mollicone lay in the middle of Nautilus Boulevard at Normandie with a cracked helmet.

Provost was working in the garage at the time of the crash and was at Mollicone’s side as he took his last breath, she said. Several residents from the area diverted traffic from all directions but Mollicone was gone before the police even arrived.

“It was a very traumatizing day,” she said. “It was devastating. Bill is still distraught.”

Tempalski believes speeding was a factor, from the sound of the motorcycle, she said. Speeding is not uncommon on Nautilus Boulevard. “Something has to be done.”

Comments on Lacey Patch and Facebook speak volumes to the type of man Mollicone was.

“No matter what the reason for the accident, the thing that matters is that a lot of us have lost one of the most amazing people ever to walk on this earth!” Cheryl Detore said. “Joe was a very, very close friend of mine and I know for a fact that he was the type of person that put everyone else before himself! Joe was extremely close with his family and definitely touched a lot of lives!”

“Joey is a man who has overcome many things! Changed his life in the direction of living in Christ,” Jessica Ann said. “Joey, your friends and family love you deeply, miss you greatly, and pray that you R.I.P.”

An obituary has yet to be published but Mollicone’s Facebook page reveals that the “People Who Inspire Joe” is the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ and God. His favorite book was the Bible and his listed activities were church and God.

His favorite athlete was Bethany Hamilton, a professional surfer who was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark at the age of 13, leaving her with a severed arm.  

“Love You Joe Mollicone. I know you saw all of us tonight,” Toni Russo said on the Facebook event page for the vigil. “Hope you’re in a better place love, they say that they only take the best and you were such an amazing person. I cherish every moment and memory with you. There was nothing but good…you found your Lord and he thought now was the time for you to be with them and do what you do.”

Immediate friends and family were unable to be reached. Please return to Lacey Patch when more information on Mollicone becomes available.